Inner brassiere with means for individually adjusting the size and shape of the breast cups



SLOTOROFF March 17, 1959 A. 2,877,771

INNER BRASSIERE WITH MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTING THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE BREAST cups 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 4, 1957 INVENTOR.

I ABRAHAM $1 07' 0E0, F

2,877,771 INNER BRASSIERE WITH MEANS FOR INDIVIDUALLY ADJUSTING March 17, 1959 A. SLOTOROFF THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE BREAST cups 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 4, 1957 I o N Wm H 0 mm M 5 m M w M m w W. M M

INNERBRASSIERE WITH MEANS FOR INDIVIDU- -ALLY ADJUSTING THE SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE BREAST curs Abraham Slotorott, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Sinclair ,lVIills, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New This invention relates to garments for women, and more particularly to a garment having a pair of bustreceiving cups and means for selectively adjusting the size and shape of such cups.

Because of the several critical dimensions common to form-fitting garments for women, it has been necessary to manufacture and stock unduly great numbers of similar garments so that a proper fit can be assured to all prospective purchasers. For example, aside from the usual variations in hip and waist sizes of women, there is the chest size and bust cup size that must also be taken into consideration when a form-fitting type garment, such as a bathing suit, is purchased. Furthermore, since the size and shape of the busts sometimes vary during various stages in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, it has sometimes been necessary to have several garments of different size available for use.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to'provide a garment having a pair of breast-receiving cups which include means for selectively adjusting the size and shape thereof, that is simple in construction, efiicient in operation, and which will substantially eliminate the aforementioned necessity of providing unduly great numbers of garment sizes, while assuring a proper fit for women of all bust sizes.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a garment having breast-receiving cups of substantially convex curvature in a lateral and longitudinal direction that include means for adjusting the size and shape of the cups independently of the rest of the garment A further object of the present invention is to provide a garment having a pair of breast-receiving cups that are of adjustable size and shape and which include stiffening means for supporting the sides of the cup with respect to the body of the wearer.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide a bathing suit having a pair of adjustable breastreceiving cups which include shape and size controlling stiffening members that are interchangeable with additional side stifiening members disposed at opposite sides of the garment.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a garment made in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the garment shown in Fig. 1, and showing in phantom lines a plurality of size adjustments.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the garment shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing the difference in size and shape between various positions of adjustment.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary front elevational view, showing the interior construction of one of the breast-receiving cups. of the garment shown in Fig. 1.

2,877,771 Patented Mar. 17, 1959 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of a flexible strip receiving pocket that forms one part of the adjustment structure of the garment.

Fig. 7a is a front elevational view of a resilient stiffener element forming another part of the adjustment structure.

Fig. 7b is a view similar to Fig. 7a showing an interchangeable strip.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7, showing the side pocket which encloses the side stiffening element of the garment.

Fig. 9 is a front elevational view showing one adjusted position of the breast cup adjustment construction.

Fig. 10 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, showing an adjusted position.

Fig. 12 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, showing a stil further adjusted position.

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of the blank used to form the breast cups of the garment shown in Fig. 1, with the adjustment and stiffening element pockets shown in phantom lines.

Referring now to Figs. 1 to 3, a bathing suit 15 constructed in accordance with the present invention, is

shown to include a back panel 17 and a front panel 18 connected together along a substantially vertical seam line 19. The upper portion of the front panel 18 defines a pair of breast-receiving cups 20 partly shaped by darts 21. As is more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a liner 23 is integrally secured within each of the breast cups and is of substantially the same shape as the exterior surface.

With further reference now to Figs. 7 to 13, the structure enabling the size and shape of the respective breast cups to be independently adjusted will be more fully explained. A substantially narrow section of fabric 26 is secured to the liner 23, along the dart line 21, to define an elongated strip-receiving pocket 25. This section of fabric is secured to the fabric liner by a pair of parallel longitudinal rows of stitching 27 and a transversely extending row of stitching 28 that closes the top of the pocket. The bottom of the pocket is also closed by a transversely extending row of stitches 29. Adjacent to the bottom of the pocket, a transversely extending opening 30 provides access to the interior of the pocket. A plurality of similar transverse apertures 31, 32, are longitudinally spaced apart intermediate the transverse opening 30 and the bottom of the pocket. An intermediate transversely extending row of stitches 34 provides a false bottom or stop means that is in communication with and adjacent to the intermediate aperture 31. A pair of similar resilient stiffening members 36, 37, of any desired construction and of difierent lengths are adapted to be individually inserted into the pocket 25 of each breast-receiving cup to provide the desired size and shape. These strips 36, 37, are inserted through the upper opening 30 until the upper end of the strip engages the top row of stitches 28 which acts as a stop to limit the upward travel of the strip. The outwardly disposed lower end of the strip may then be inserted in either one of the intermediate openings 31, 32, depending upon the cup size and shape desired. When inserted in the one opening 31, the lower end of the stiffening strip abuts against the intermediate row of stitches 34 which also acts as a stop to limit the downward movement of the strip. On the other hand, by inserting the lower end of the strip through the lower opening 32, the lower row of stitches 29 serves this purpose.

For purposes of illustration, three different sizes and shapes have been shown in Figs. 2 through 4 of the drawing. By using the shorter member 36 and inserting the lower end thereof through the lower aperture 32, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10, a small size cup 20S'will be formed. However, by inserting the lower end of this member 36 into the intermediate aperture 31, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, a cup 20M can be formed of slightly larger size and having a bust line somewhat higher than that formed by inserting the lower end of the member into the lowermost aperture. As shown in Fig. 4, the difference in height of the bust line is indicated by the dimension d.

It will now become evident that by using the somewhat seam line 19 and adjacent to the outside end of each bust cup. As is more clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 7, this pocket 40 is formed by an elongated section of fabric 41 that is secured to the garment by a pair of parallel longitudinal rows of stitching 43. The top of the pocket is closed by a transversely extending row of stitches 44 (Fig. 8), while the bottom thereof is closed by a similar row of stitches 45. A pair of transversely extending apertures 47, 48, are disposed adjacent to the bottom of the pocket in the manner hereinbefore described. In

actual use of the garment, either one of the stiffening members 36, 37, may be inserted into the pocket 40 so that it functions to support the sides of each breast cup.

Thus, the proper member is selected for use in the bust cupsin order to obtain the desired size and shape, while the other such member may be stored within the side pocket 40 where it performs the side stiffening function. The member is inserted into the pocket 40 through the upper aperture 47, while the lower end thereof is inserted 7 into the lower opening 48, in the manner described.

to said pocket located near said second end thereof, said pocket having a plurality of spaced transverse apertures located between said access opening and said second end, a stop extending across the pocket adjacent each aperture and disposed between said aperture and said second end, said strip extending into said pocket through said access opening with one of its ends abutting said first end clo-.

sure, the otherend of said strip being selectively inserted into one of said apertures and abutting the stop adjacent said aperture whereby the chordal spacing between the ends of each said strip may be adjusted to achieve varying' ond end, a plurality of stop means extending transversely across said pocket near the first end thereof, one end of said ,strlp being in abutting engagement with the closure at thesecond end of the pocket, and the other end of said strip being in abutting engagement selectively with.

one of said stop means.

3. A garment as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pockethas an access-opening near its first end-,and-be-.

tweenits second end and the plurality of stop means,-

through, which access-opening the One end of said strip may be entered into said pocket to abut the closure at. said second end, a plurality of longitudinally spaced aper-: tures through the pocket wall, one aperture being adjacent each, said stop means, the other end of said strip being;

adapted to enter selectively one of the apertures for abutting. engagement with a corresponding stop means.

4. A garment as set forth in claim 3, further comprising means for stiffening a side of said cup in a direction substantially parallel to said one direction, said stiffening It will be recognized that this construction may be used for all types of custom-fitting garments not only to reduce cost of manufacture and distribution, but also to increase the utility of the garments to the wearer. While various changes may be made in the detailed construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spiritand scope of the present invention as defined by theappended; claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Ina garment having a pair of flexible breast cups, means for independently adjusting the size and shape of j means including longitudinal pocket adjacent to said cup,

and a resilient member of different length than said re-.

silient strip removably supported Within said longitudinal pocket.

5. A garment as set forth in claim 4, wherein said resilient strip and said resilient member are selectively.

received interchangeably in each one of said pockets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,012,406 Merkin Dec. 19, 1911 2,543,984 Panes Mar. 6, 1951 2,666,918 Rosenthal Jan. 26, 1954'. 2,673,982 Mosen et al Apr. 6, 1954' 2,700,768 Kress Feb. 1, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 40,147 Austria Dec. 27, 1909 

